Method of mounting sloped glazing bars on the flat tops of hollow vertical bars

ABSTRACT

A greenhouse with two gable ends formed of a framework which extends between the ends and which includes a sloped roof or eave and also includes sloped gable end bars supported atop vertical bars included in the gable ends. Wedge shaped gable adaptors of reversible configuration are inserted between the tops of the vertical bars and the lower surfaces of the sloped bars to provide a firm support for the sloped bars and a connection between the vertical and sloped bars. The vertical bars are of like configuration in cross-section and are aluminum extrusions arranged in mirror image of each other. Use of the reversible adaptors enable the same extrusion design to be used on opposite ends of the greenhouse. The adaptor structure includes prongs which are inserted into the extrusions which are hollow. The prongs have relative lengths and widths which facilitate mounting of the adaptors in the partially erected greenhouse. The mounting method includes bolting the adaptors to the bars by the use of openings provided in the adaptors for this purpose. Shims are employed with a design to enable the insertion of the same after the adaptors have been connected to the bars.

This is a divisional on application Ser. No. 596,091, filed Apr. 2,1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,139.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to greenhouses and like structures includingframeworks supporting glazings or the like. The invention also relatesto associated methods.

BACKGROUND

Greenhouses or solariums are being used in increasing frequency for homeimprovement as the ideal solution for adding space and developing anoutdoor feeling at relatively low cost and with minimum effort. Thesegreenhouses or solariums (these terms may be used interchangeablyherein) are glass enclosures wherein glazing may be supported onframeworks consisting, for example, of lattices or the like fabricatedof aluminum extrusions or bars developed to provide for variousancillary functions. These functions and the associated features whichpermit them to be realized include shading tracks to provide for theraising and lowering of shades, the interconnection of multiple bars,the accomodation of glazing panels with thermal breaks, "weeping"designs to avoid the accumulation of excess moisture, the attaching ofinternal and external auxiliary members, and the like.

Since the design of the aforesaid extrusions is intended to incorporateso many features and provide for so many functions, the resultingextrusions are often complex. As will be discussed below, they sometimeshave exterior and interior halves or parts which are not positionallyinterchangeable even though they may be symmetrical about a givenlongitudinal plane.

The aforesaid design characteristic is significant in the erecting offrameworks of particular types. For example, certain lean-to typegreenhouses have frameworks which terminate in lefthand and righthandgable ends between which extend a vertical front having a sloped eavewhich slopes downwardly away from a supporting structure such as adwelling. The sloped eave will include sloped glazing bars which liegenerally in the planes of the gable ends wherein they are supportedatop vertical glazing bars.

If, in the above structure, the vertical glazing bars and the slopedglazing bars are to fit snugly together, it is necessary to mitre orslope the top ends of the vertical bars so that the bottom surfaces ofthe sloped glazing bars can rest flatly against the same. Briefconsideration of this arrangement will lead to the realization thatdifferent mitres will have to be used for vertical bars in the lefthandand righthand gable ends respectively, unless the vertical bars arecompletely symmetrical in cross-section.

In most cases, however, the vertical glazing bars are are not completelysymmetrical. They have exterior and interior portions which always mustface the exterior and interior of the associated greenhouse enclosurewhether they are in the lefthand or righthand gable end. This means thata different or reversed mitre must be provided for the lefthand end thanfor the righthand end for, if the same mitre were to be provided for thetops of all end vertical bars, the mitre would be correct for one endand reversed or improper for the other end. This is due to the fact thatthe vertical bars in the opposite gable ends have to be mounted inmirror image (i.e., rotated one hundred and eighty degrees) with respectto one another to maintain the proper interior-exterior alignment.

In actual construction, this leads to a problem. It means that two setsof vertical bars have to be made. One set is mitred for the lefthandgable end and the other set is mitred for the righthand gable end. Thisturn means that it is necessary to manufacture and inventory twoseparate kinds of gable-end vertical bars with respectively oppositemitres and leads to other complications as well. For example, if theoppositely mitred bars are accidentally mounted in the wrong gable ends,the structure has to be dismantled and reassembled. The problems are allthe more accentuated when the greenhouses or solariums are shipped indismantled form as "do-it-yourself" kits. The problems also includeincreased manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide for improved lattice orframework constructions for greenhouses, solariums and the like.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide animproved framework design wherein the vertical bars in opposite ends maybe of universal cross-section design while never-the-less providingappropriate mitres for supporting the respective sloped glazing barsassociated therewith.

Still another object of the invention, as will be seen, is to provide areversible and universal adaptor suitable for use in the frameworks ofopposite gable ends in greenhouses or solariums.

Yet another object is to provide for accommodating dimensionaldiscrepancies in gable ends by the use of shims of improved anduniversal design.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide improved methodsrelating to the erection of glazing supports.

In achieving the above and other objects of the invention, there isprovided a light-permeable structure which comprises an open frameworkwith a light-permeable glazing being provided on the structure to definean enclosure. The framework includes opposed sections or ends includingrespective vertical structural members of like construction and inmirror image of each other. The framework further includes slopedmembers adapted to rest atop the vertical members and defining therewithand above the same wedge shaped openings. Wedge shaped members oradaptors of like conformation are mounted between the vertical andsloped members to support the sloped members on respective of thevertical members. The wedge shaped members have surfaces to rest atopthe vertical members and to rest against the sloped members. The wedgeshaped members are of a configuration to be interchangeably mountedbetween either of the vertical members and the corresponding slopedmember and the wedge shaped members are furthermore connectible to oneor both of the vertical and sloped members. The vertical members can bearbitrarily mounted in either of the opposed sections or ends.

As will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow, each vertical memberhas a longitudinal plane of symmetry and the associated wedge shapedmember has a sloped surface which slopes athwart this plane. Preferablythe vertical members are hollow extrusions having like cross-sectionsand defining like internal bores. The wedge shaped members, as will beshown hereinbelow, include prongs extending into the bores to locate andbrace the wedge shaped members on the vertical members. As will furtherbe shown hereinafter, fastening members connect the wedge shaped membersto the respective vertical and sloped members which are provided withreceptacles to receive respective of the fastening members.

It will be explained hereinbelow that each sloped member has anelongated face facing the associated vertical member and provided withone of the receptacles running longitudinally therealong. The wedgeshaped members are each provided with at least one elongated openingaligned with the receptacle noted above and to accommodate one of thepreviously mentioned fastening members. Each vertical member is providedwith one of the receptacles opening endwise therein and thecorresponding wedge shaped member is provided with a correspondingfurther opening to accommodate one of the fastening members therein.

Another feature of the invention relates to the the provision of a shimbetween the vertical members and the associated wedge shaped members toprovide a snug fit between the wedge shaped member and vertical andsloped members. This shim as will be shown hereinbelow is a flatgenerally C-shaped member with an open end to permit bypassing theprongs. More particularly, the C-shaped member includes spaced legsstraddling the prongs and including notches in which at least one of theprongs is engaged. Furthermore the C-shaped member includes a bightconnecting the legs and provided with an opening corresponding with oneof the openings in the wedge shaped member to accommodate the passagetherethrough of the related fastening member. The aforesaid legs areresiliently spreadable and include claws at the respective ends thereof.

It will also be explained in the detailed description which followsbelow that each vertical member is preferably provided with a flat topend and it will also be seen that the wedge shaped member inclusive ofthe prongs extending therefrom are each monolithic plastic memberswhereas the vertical and sloped members are respectively aluminumextrusions. It may also appear that each vertical member has a bottomwhich slopes transversely of the sloped surface of the wedge shapedmember and that the vertical members are wider than the sloped members.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, each wedge shapedmember is provided with two interdigitated sets of openings. One set ofopenings of one wedge shaped member is aligned with the receptacles ofthe corresponding vertical member and the corresponding sloped member.The other set of openings of the other wedge shaped member is alignedwith the receptacles of the other vertical member and correspondingsloped member.

Considered with respect to the reversible adaptor provided in accordancewith the invention independently of the environmental structure intowhich it is incorporated, the reversible gable end adaptor provided inaccordance with the invention includes a wedge shaped block having agenerally flat bottom and a sloped top and three flat prongs extendingin spaced parallel relation from the bottom of the block. The block isprovided with laterally located holes straddling the prongs and paralleltherewith. The holes have enlarged portions countersunk into the slopedtop. The block is furthermore provided with two sets of elongated holesparallel to and between respective pairs of the prongs. These prongs arepreferably configured as flat parallel elements arranged as two outerand one central element. The central element is wider than the two outerelements and has a sloped bottom end. The other elements have flatbottom ends parallel with the flat bottom of the block.

According to features of the structure of the reversible gable adaptor,this adaptor has its sloped top terminating in rounded edges. Moreover,the block bottom is generally of rectangular shape. The shim referred tohereinabove is a flat C-shaped shim resting against the block bottom andincluding a bight provided with a hole aligned with one of the aforesaidlaterally located holes as noted above. This shim includes the twoparallel legs referred to hereinabove configured and arranged asaforesaid and as to be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

In further accordance with the invention there is provided a method ofmounting sloped glazing bars on the flat tops of two generally identicalhollow vertical bars arranged in mirror image relation. The method ofthe invention comprises molding two plastic wedges with prongs extendingtherefrom and arranging the wedges between the respective of the slopedbars and flat tops with the prongs inserted into the hollow bars.According to another aspect of the invention, there is comprised thestep of attaching the wedges to the sloped bars whereafter the prongsare inserted into the hollow vertical bars and the wedges are fastenedto the vertical bars.

According to another feature of the method of the invention, thevertical bars are arranged in mirror image of each other and the slopedbars are arranged to slope in the same direction of slope. Furthermore,shims of the aforenoted construction are arranged between the wedges andvertical bars with the shims each engaging a respective one of theaforementioned prongs.

The invention may also be considered in terms of providing a greenhouseor solarium or the like which comprises a framework arrangement withglazing being provided on this framework to define an enclosuretherewith. The framework arrangement includes spaced ends, a frontbetween these ends and a sloped eave extending from the front andextending between the ends. The ends each include at least one verticalbar as noted above having a top with the eave including spaced slopedbars adapted for being supported at least in part atop respective of thevertical bars. In accordance with the invention, an adaptor is providedbetween each of the sloped bars and the corresponding top of thecorresponding vertical bar. The adaptors each have sloped surfaces atleast in part supporting the sloped bars.

According to a feature of the aforesaid structure, the vertical bars areof the same cross-section and have horizontal planar tops. The adaptorseach have horizontal surfaces resting on these tops.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be found inthe detailed description which follows hereinbelow as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial, but somewhat diagrammatic view of a lean-to typegreenhouse or solarium to which the invention applies;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively diagrammatic views of opposite endframeworks utilized in the structure of FIG. 1 according to the priorart;

FIGS. 4 and 5 correspond respectively to FIGS. 2 and 3 but incorporatean improvement of the invention in the form of universal adaptors;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the combined structures of FIGS. 4 and5 taken from the interior of the greenhouse or solarium, the glazingbeing incorporated in part;

FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows the mirror image arrangement of twoasymmetric cross-sections of two vertical bars in opposite gable ends ofthe aforementioned and certain;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing how a reversible adaptor of theinvention is incorporated into the framework along with a shim of theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of said reversible adaptor;

FIG. 10 is a top view of said reversible adaptor;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of said reversible adaptor;

FIG. 12 is a rear view of said reversible adaptor;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of said shim of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 14 is an end view of said shim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description which follows, the terms "greenhouse" and "solarium"are used interchangeably and are intended to include and berepresentative of various types of structures or parts of structuresincluding but not limited to enclosures fabricated or not with glass orplastic glazing permeable to solar flux. The terms "lattice" and"framework" are intended to include all kinds of arrangements ofstructural members arranged in any kind of intersecting, abutting oradjoining relationship or the like. The terms "bars" or "extrusions" areintended to include structural members of metal or plastic or the like,preferably aluminum, manufactured by any process or combined processes.

A lean-to type greenhouse or solarium is shown at 20 in FIG. 1. It leansagainst a supporting structure (not shown) such as a dwelling with whichit defines an enclosure in which may be placed plants, furniture, poolsor the like. It includes two gable ends of which righthand gable end 22is seen. The two gable ends are connected by a front 24 from whichextends a sloped top or roof or eave 26 which slopes away from theassociated supporting structure. One or more doors 28 and windows 30 maybe conventionally provided.

The greenhouse 20 comprises a framework 32 consisting of vertical bars34 including sloped bars 36 and also consisting of cross muntins 38. Abottom sill appears at 40 and a venting arrangement at 42. A verticalbar 44 of righthand gable end 22 and other such vertical bars supportsloped bar 46.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show sloped bar and associated vertical bar arrangementsof the righthand and lefthand gable ends respectively but according tothe prior art. The views are from the exterior of the structure. Thesloped bar of the righthand gable end is designated 46R whereas thesloped bar of the lefthand gable end is indicated as 46L.

Representative gable-end vertical bars are indicated at 44R and 44L (Rstands for righthand and L for lefthand). The mitred tops of bars 44Rand 44L are indicated at 50R and 50L. They are sloped at the same angleas the lower surfaces 52R and 52L of sloped bars 46R and 46L which restthereupon.

In the completed greenhouses, the framework sections of FIGS. 2 and 3are parallel. If the vertical bars are then arranged in mirror image ofone another, the faces 54R and 54L will both be the exterior faces asexplained more fully below. The mitres 50R and 50L will therefore beopposite one another or, in other words, rotated 180° with respect toeach other.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively the equivalents of FIGS. 2 and 3 but showone of the improvements of the invention. This takes the form ofreversible adaptors 60R and 60L which are generally wedge-shaped membershaving upper sloped surfaces 62R and 62L and flat horizontal lowersurfaces 64R and 64L resting against the flat horizontal top ends 66Rand 66L which in this case are not sloped. The vertical bars 70R and 70Lwith these flat tops may consequently be interchangeable and of likeconstruction.

FIG. 6 is a view from the interior enclosure showing the relationship ofvertical bars 70R and 70L and sloped bars 72R and 72L as well aswedge-shaped adaptors 60R and 60L. Herein it is seen that the width W1of the sloped bars is less than the width W2 of the adaptor and verticalbars for a purpose to be later explained. Also seen in FIG. 6 areextrusions 74R and 74L holding in position glazing sections 76R and 76Lof glass or plastic. Glazing section 78 extends between the gable endsand is shown in diagrammatic form absent its supporting bars which arenot relevant to this invention.

Since an understanding of "mirror image" and "symmetry" or lack of it ispertinent to the description herein, the cross-sections of vertical bars70R and 70L are shown in their relative postures in FIG. 7. The spacingof these structural elements in FIG. 7 is not to scale as beingirrelevant for this discussion. As will be seen bars 70R and 70L aresymmetrical about axis 80. They are, however, asymmetrical about axes 82and 84. Having one degree of asymmetry these elements are describedherein generally as being asymmetrical. Their cross-sections areidentical and they are in mirror image of each other (i.e., they arerotated relatively to one another by 180 degrees). The term "mirrorimage" as employed herein does not however preclude the lateraloffsetting of these structural elements such that they may not both bealigned on the same axis 80.

The mirror image rotation is permitted in part by the fact that the topsof the bars are both flat. The arrangement keeps the exterior parts 86Rand 86L outwardly directed and the interior parts 88R and 88L inwardlydirected. Use of the reversible gable end adaptors of the inventionaccommodates the slope of the associated sloped bars. The downward slopeof the adaptors is diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 7 by arrows 90 and92 for each bar. This indicates the slope to be athwart axis 80.

FIG. 8 shows a detail of the connection of sloped bar 72L to verticalbar 70L and the support of sloped bar 72L atop vertical bar 70L by meansof adaptor 60L. Also shown in this figure are the structural elements74L and the exterior portion 86L and interior portion 88L of thevertical bar 70L as well as the sloped surface 62L and the flat bottomsurface 64L of the adaptor 60L.

The purpose of structural member 74L as was seen with respect to FIG. 6is to accommodate the upper edge of a glazing panel therein. For thispurpose, structural element 74L is provided with receptacle 100 definedbetween channel flanges 102 and 104. As shown by dotted lines 106,flange 104 is accommodated in a groove 108 provided on the top of slopedbar 72L. A thermal break cord 110 is accommodated in a groove 112provided on the top of sloped bar 72L as well. At the bottom of thesloped bar 72L there are provided two channels 116 and 118. Thesechannels are intended to accommodate the bulbous peripheries of adjacentshading members employed within the greenhouse. These shading membersand their association with channels 116 and 118 are described in theFour Seasons' 1983 Catalog entitled Passive Solar Greenhouses andSolarium Structures and are furthermore described in co-pending patentapplications. The bottom of the sloped bar 72L is moreover provided witha longitudinally extending receptacle 120 the purpose of which is toaccommodate a fastening member as will be described hereinbelow.

The upper surface 62L of adaptor 60L rests against the flat lowersurface of the sloped bar 72L as indicated at 122. As will be seen, theadaptor is provided with a first pair of elongated holes 124 and 126arranged in longitudinal alignment on a common axis. The adaptor 60L isfurthermore provided with a second pair of elongated openings 128 and130, these openings being provided on a common axis in alignment withone another. The adaptor 60L is furthermore provided with two lateralcountersunk openings 132 and 134 these in turn are in alignment with twoopenings of which only the opening 136 is visible in FIG. 8.

The vertical member 70L is provided with a receptacle 140 extendinglongitudinally therealong and opening endwise at the top 66L of thisvertical member. There is also provided a second longitudinallyextending opening 142 which likewise opens at the top 66L. The openingassociated with countersunk opening 132 in adaptor 60L is intended tocooperate with elongated openings 124 and 126. The opening 136 inadaptor 60L is intended to cooperate with openings 128 and 130. Theopenings may thus be considered to be in interdigitated relationshipwith one set of openings bracketing some of the holes in the other setof openings.

In the illustrated arrangement a fastening member 150 in the form of athreaded bolt is intended as shown by dotted line 152 to engage in theopening associated with countersunk opening 132 thereby to engageendwise in the receptacle 140 in vertical member 70L. In so doing, theadaptor 60L is connected with the vertical member 70L. Before this takesplace, however, the two fastening members 156 and 158 are passed throughopenings 126 and 124 as shown by dotted lines 160 and 162 thereby toengage in the receptacle 120 in the bottom of sloped member 72L therebyto connect the adaptor to the sloped member.

Due to the fact that the width W1 of the sloped member is less than thewidth W2 of the vertical member, the top 66L of the vertical member 70Lis exposed at the side 88L thereof when the sloped member 72L is inposition atop the vertical member 70L. This means that the adaptor 60Lcan first be attached to the bottom of the sloped member 72L and canthereafter be engaged within the vertical member 70L whereafter it ispossible to insert the fastening member 150 through its hole to engagein the receptacle 140. In this case, the elongated holes 128 and 130 arenot employed. Typically it is unnecessary for this arrangement toutilize the opening 136.

As will be noted, the adaptor 60L is provided with a central prong 166and two lateral prongs 168 and 170. As will be explained hereinafter,these prongs are intended to engage in the internal chamber 172 of thevertical member 70L and to brace the adaptor 60L therein. As will beexplained, the prongs have different relationships with one another anddifferent conformations to enable a ready displacement of the adaptorprongs into the chamber 172 after the adaptor has first been mounted onthe bottom of the sloped member 72L and the sloped member 72L moved intoposition.

A further feature of the invention as noted hereinabove, takes the formof flat shim 180. One or more of these shims may be employed toaccommodate variations or tolerances in the sizes of the variouselements. The utilization of the shim 180 or a plurality of the same isintended to provide a tight fit as between the structural elements 72Land 70L along with adaptor 60L with the structural members 72L and 70Lbeing in appropriate position. As will be explained in greater detailhereinbelow, the shim 180 is a generally rectangular member but is moreaptly described as being a C-shaped member having a bight 182 and twolegs 184 and 186. At the ends of these legs are positioned claws 188 and190. The insides of the legs are provided with notches 192 and 194 thepurpose of which is to engage with the opposite ends of central prong166 thereby to firmly position the shim in appropriate position. It willbe noted as described hereinbelow that the legs 184 and 186 are ofspreadable construction whereby to enable a snap fit over the prong 166.The rectangular periphery of the shim 180 is such as to fitappropriately to the profile of the top of the vertical member 70Lwhereby the shim is substantially concealed. It will be notedfurthermore that the bight 182 is provided with an enlarged section 200within which is provided an opening 202 to accommodate the passagetherethrough of fastening member 150 which serves further to hold theshim in its appropriate position between the bottom of the adaptor andthe top of vertical member 70L.

It will be furthermore noted that the bottom of the vertical member 70Las indicated at 204 is of sloped conformation. The purpose of this slopeis to enable the accommodation and positioning of the bottom of thevertical member in an accommodating base sill (not shown). It will beobserved that the slope of the bottom 204 is at right angles to theslope of the upper surface 62L of the adaptor 60L. It will also be notedthat the connection of the adaptor 60L or its identical counterpart canbe readily selected by the installer thereby enabling the appropriateslope to be provided in the corresponding righthand vertical member asreferred to hereinabove particularly with respect to FIGS. 4-7.

The details of the adaptor 60L are shown by way of example in FIGS. 9-12wherein are seen sloped upper surface 62L and the flat bottom surface64L. The angle between these surfaces is shown at 210. This angle may,for example, run between 10 and 30 degrees according to requirements.Also shown in FIGS. 9-12 are prongs 166, 168 and 170 and openings 124,126, 130 and 132. Countersunk openings 134 and 136 appear in FIG. 10 aswell as opening 136 and corresponding opening 136' which was not visiblein FIG. 8. The front of the adaptor construction is shown at 212 and therear at 214. The front is substantially shorter than the rear 214 byvirtue of the slope provided with respect to sloped surface 62L. Withinthe bottom 64L is a countersunk chamber 216. This countersunk chamber isgenerally of the form of the sloped surface 62L and thus generally givesthe same a constant thickness over the major portion thereof.

The central prong 164 has a bottom 218 which is sloped. This slope isindicated generally at 220 and may for example, have a slope of about 15to 30 degrees. The width of the prong 166 is indicated at W3. This widthis such as to permit a relatively close fit into the correspondingdimension of the chamber 172 of the corresponding vertical member 70L.To enable insertion of the prong without difficulty, it is provided withrounded corners 222 and 224.

The bottoms of prongs 168 and 170 are indicated at 230 and 232. Thesebottoms are flat and lie in a common plane which is short of the bottomof the central prong 166 at the central portion of the latter. Actually,the bottoms 230 and 232 lie in a plane which intersects the corner 224of the central prong 166. The relatively short height of the prongs 168and 170 permit them to be readily inserted into the chamber 172 (seeFIG. 8). The outer surfaces of prongs 168 and 170 are indicated at 234and 236. They are spaced by distance W4 (see FIG. 12). This distance W4corresponds closely to the corresponding transverse dimension of thechamber 172 so that a tight fit of these prongs within the verticalmember 70L results. The opposite edges of the central prong 166 areindicated at 240 and 242 and afford the dimension W3. Generallyspeaking, the surfaces 234 and 236 as well as the edges 240 and 242engage internally against the inner surface of the chamber 172 ofvertical member 70L thereby holding the adaptor 60L in position andpreventing lateral displacement thereof in any direction.

It will also be noted that the edges 250 and 252 of the upper surface62L are rounded. The purpose of this is founded in the fact that theadaptor in its exposed position atop the vertical member 70L willsupport the associated shade (not shown) passing over the same. Therounded edges 250 and 252 provide that the adaptor will not cut into orabrade the material of the shade which will be displaceable therealong.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are respectively top and end views of the shim 180mentioned hereinabove with respect to FIG. 8. In these figures are shownthe bight 182 and the legs 184 and 186 with the claws 188 and 190thereon. Also seen is the enlarged section 200 with the opening 202therein for purposes previously mentioned. It will furthermore be seenin FIG. 13 that the legs are provided with notches 192 and 194. Thesenotches are the notches in which the edges 240 and 242 of the centralprong 166 (See FIG. 9) are accommodated. Furthermore, the legs 184 and186 are provided with a taper such as indicated at 260 and 262. Thistaper enhances the flexibility of the legs so that the claws 188 and 190can snap over the central prong thereby to permit full insertion of theshim into positon. As indicated above, one or more shims may be employedwhere required. For this purpose the shims may have a thickness asindicated at 264 in the order of magnitude of 0.100 inches. The sims arepreferably fabricated of plastic as are the adaptors and each of thesestructures are preferably monolithic members formed by a molding processor the like.

The method of the invention has been generally indicated above but mayfurther be generalized as consisting of a technique of mounting slopedglazing bars on the flat tops of two generally identical hollow verticalbars arranged in mirror image relationship. The method or techniquecomprises molding two plastic wedges with prongs depending therefrom andarranging the wedges between respective of the sloped bars and flat topswith the prongs inserted into the hollow bars. The wedges are firstattached to the sloped bars and then the prongs are inserted into thehollow vertical bars and the wedges then fastened to the vertical bars.In arranging the vertical bars in mirror image of one another andarranging the wedges as aforesaid the sloped bars are enabled to slopein the same general direction.

In accordance with what has been described above it will now appear thatthe invention provides with respect to a light permeable structure anopen framework and glazing arrangement. The framework includes opposedsections including respective vertical structural members of likeconstruction and in mirror image of each other. This framework furtherincludes sloped members adapted to rest atop the vertical members anddefining therewith and above the same wedge-shaped openings. Therein aremounted wedge shaped adaptors of like conformation mounted between thevertical and sloped members to support the sloped members on respectiveof the vertical members. The wedge shaped members have surfaces to restatop the vertical members and to rest against the sloped members. Thewedge shaped members are of a configuration to be interchangeablymounted between either of the vertical members and the correspondingsloped member. As a result the vertical members can be arbitrarilymountable in either of the opposed sections or gable ends so that it isnecessary to provide in the assemblage or kit vertical members which areof like cross-section and which are reversibly mountable in either endof the construction.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, manymodifications and variations of the constructions and methods set forthhereinabove. These modifications and variations will not depart from thescope of the invention, if defined by the following claims or ifequivalent thereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of mounting sloped glazing bars on theflat tops of two generally identical hollow vertical bars arranged inmirror image and spaced parallel relation, said method comprisingmolding two plastic wedges with prongs depending therefrom; assemblingsaid sloped glazing bars adjacent the ends of the flat tops of thespaced parallel hollow vertical bars; and arranging the wedges betweenrespective of the sloped bars and flat tops with the prongs insertedinto the flat tops of the hollow bars and a sloped surface of each ofthe wedges being engaged with a surface of the sloped glazed bars.
 2. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 comprising attaching the wedges to thesloped bars then inserting the prongs into the hollow vertical bars andfastening the wedges to the vertical bars.
 3. A method as claimed inclaim 2 comprising arranging the vertical bars in mirror image of eachother and arranging the sloped bars to slope in the same direction ofslope.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising arranging shimsbetween the wedges and vertical bars with the shims each engaging arespective one of the prongs.